The Red Sonja reboot has received an action-packed trailer as it attempts to reinvigorate the character after her disastrous 1980s outing. Starring Revenge actor Matilda Lutz as the тιтular sword-swinging warrior from the Hyborian Age, this latest attempt at bringing the popular comic character to life follows on from the 1985 box office disaster starring Brigitte Nielsen and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ahead of Red Sonja’s August 15 release, Entertainment Weekly debuted a new trailer showcasing Lutz’s heroine as she slashes her way through an ᴀssortment of ᴅᴇᴀᴅly foes. Also featuring The Umbrella Academy’s Robert Sheehan as the tyrannical Draygan the Magnificent, the trailer offers a blood-soaked glimpse of Sonja’s quest to save her people from enslavement. Check out the full trailer below:

What Red Sonja’s Trailer Reveals About The New Reboot

The New Movie Is Not Shying Away From Classic Sword And Sorcery Tropes

From gladiatorial battles against a giant cyclops to acrobatic displays of martial prowess, the new Red Sonja trailer appears to lean heavily into the pulp sword and sorcery elements that have made the character a fan favorite since the 1970s. Even Sonja’s trademark chainmail ʙικιɴι makes an appearance, complete with a quip about what the nonsensical armor could possibly protect.

However, Lutz’s version of Sonja seems a far more capable heroine than Nielsen’s, and there does not appear to be the same kind of emphasis on characters like Schwarzenegger’s Kalidor, who was essentially Conan the Barbarian in everything but name. Batgirl’s Wallis Day also makes an impression as Draygan’s imposing bride, Annisia, hinting at a spectacular showdown with Sonja.

Our Take On Red Sonja’s Newest Trailer

It Would Be Hard To Do Worse Than The Original

Ever since plans for a Red Sonja reboot were announced, audiences have been curious how the filmmakers would approach what Schwarzenegger himself has jokingly admitted was the worst film of his career. Only earning back over a third of its original $17.9 million budget and lambasted by critics, the first movie was an unequivocal commercial and critical failure.

However, this latest trailer hints at a newer version of the character that not only appears to address some of the past criticisms of Red Sonja’s over-Sєxualization but also honors the traditions of the very same sword and sorcery movies that the 1985 movie largely failed to live up to.

Source: Entertainment Weekly